Weigh-pan.



' No. 876,541. PATENTED JAN.14, 1908.

F. c. GREENE & c. G. PALMER.

WEIGH PAN.

APPLIGATIO FILED AUG. 18, 1905.

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. PATENTED JAN.14, 1908. P. G. GREENE & G. G. PALMER.

WEIGH PAN.

. APPLIOATION FILED AUG.18. 1905.

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I I I l I I i I I V V I I I I I I I I I l WITNESSES:

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- UNITED STATES PATENT oEErcE.

FRANK C. GREENE, OF CLEVELAND, AND CHARLES G. PALMER, OF EAST CLEVELAND,OHIO, ASSIGNOR-S, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO SAID GREENE.

WEIGH-PAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1908.

Application filed August 18, 1905. Serial No. 274.682.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK C. GREENE and CIIAELEs G. PALMER, bothcitizens of the United States, residents of Cleveland. and EastCleveland, respectively, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in VVeigh- Pans, of which thefollowing is a specification, the principle of the invention beingherein explained and the best mode in which we have contemplatedapplying that principle so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

Our invention relates to weighpans,.and particularly to weigh-pans suchas are em ployed for weighing coal in the tipple of a coal mine and inlike situations. In such tipples the coal, after being dumped from themine car, is usually passed. over an inclined. screen in order toseparate the slack, and is then received in a weigh-pan or basket, fromwhich, upon its weight being determined, it is discharged into a bin orcar beneath. Such weigh-pan, as needs scarcely be explained, is mountedin a suitable weighing machine, the scale of which is located in aweigh-box placed where most convenient in the tipple structure.

The object of our invention is to provide a weigh-pan that can be easilyand quickly dumped of its contents from any desired station in thetipple, and that at the same time will be economical of space.

To the accomplishment of these ends it consists of means hereinafterfully described and particularly set forth. in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principleof the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawingsz-Figure 1 represents a front end view of ourimproved wcigh-pan arranged to discharge its contents; Fig. 2 shows thesame closed and ready to receive a load; Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofour weigh-pan; Fig. A is a vertical longitudinal cross section of thesame cut by a plane passing through the line 4 Fig. 2; Fig. 5 shows, inconnection with the beam to which it is attached, a side view of one ofthe hinge pins upon which the bottomv members of the pan are pivoted;while Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively an end view and a side elevation ofsaid weigh-pan as disposed. in a coal-mine tipple, the outlines, merely,of the tipple structurebeing indicated.

Such tipple structure is designated in general by the reference letterT, the form there shown, however, being chosen merely for the purpose ofillustration. It does not form any part of our present application.Loaded cars from the mine are intended to be introduced near the top ofthe structure onto dumping station S. The coal after being dischargedfrointhe car passes over a series of screens Q, whereby the'slack isseparated out, and is thereupon received in the weighpan P. Thence,after its weight has been determined, it is discharged into a chute Rwhich conveys it either to bins in the lower part of the tipple or else,as is more usually the case directly into railway cars. Weighpan P issuspended from levers p forming a part of a scale mechanism of thefamiliar lever type.

The weigh-box, not shown, is located at some convenient station in thetipple structure, and it is from this station that the improvedweigh-pan which forms the subject of this present invention is designedto be operated. Before proceeding with the descrip tion of suchweigh-pan, it may be well to indicate the type of device that it isexpected to supplant therewith. I'Ieretofore where weigh-pans have beenused, they have generally taken the form of an elongated basketcontinuous with the screen or chute down which the coal is dischargedfrom the tipple dump. In its earlier from such basket was pivotallymounted at one end and supported at the other by means of a rope orchain passing over a pulley and having a counterweight at its other end.Such basket was further so arranged as to be depressed by the weight ofthe coal and to thereupon automatically open and discharge its contentsinto the bin or car beneath. In a later development of the device,instead of having one end pivoted to a fixed support, such support hasbeen made vertically movable just as the counterpoised end, the formerautomatic opening being secured by lowering the two ends at differentrates of speed so as to discharge the basket as it descends towards thecar.

The above described type of weigh-pan, as well as all others heretoforedevised, of which applicants have knowledge, is objectionable in thefirst place because of the amount of space required by the movements ofthe pan in the operation of discharging, the provision of such spaceadding to the cost of the tipple or else taking up room that couldotherwise be advantageously used for storage purposes; and in the secondplace, because of the time required for the basket to descend, open,ascend and finally close, which is considerable and limits the rapiditywith which the coal can be handled.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1. to 4 inclusive of the drawings, theframe-work of our improved weigh-pan comprises essentially a series ofyoke angles A which bend over the top and down the sides of the pan.These sides are formed of plates B secured to the legs of the yokeangles and on their inner surfaces. Only one end of the pan, as shown,is closed, the other being left open to receive the coal as it comesdown the chute from the screen, and the pan as a whole may be downwardlyinclined from this end to facilitate the even distribution of the coaltherein. Such closure of the forward end is effected by means of an endplate C, Figs. 1 and 2, where such forward end of the pan isrepresented.

The legs of the two end yokes are tied together by means of cross barsconsisting at the rear end of the pan, Fig. 3, of a channel bar 0, andat the forward end Figs. 1 and 2, of an angle bar The bottom of the pancomprises two similar longitudinally disposed plates D D, bent in themanner shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These bottom plates are stiffenedlengthwise by means of I-beams, (Z d, to the ends of which are rivetedhinge pins (1, Fig. 5. These hinge pins turn in bearings formed at therear end of the pan in channel bar C and at the forward and in the endplate C reinforced locally by small plates 0 c. It will thus readilyappear that each of the bottom plates D is free to swing on a pivotalaxis joining hinge pins (Z The outer longitudinal edge of each of theseplates is protected by means of an L-bar (Z To these are secured otherbars (Z which serve as counterweights whereby bottom plates D arenormally held in a horizontal position so as to close the pan.

On the inner edges of the bottom plates, and therefore along the centerline of the pan are riveted Z-bars (1". These Z-bars extend beyond thebottom plates at each end of the pan, and are designed, in addition tostrengthening such bottom plates, to be engaged by latches K when suchplates are in their horizontal position whereby. the bottom of the panis held in a closed position. The aforesaid latches K are keyed torock-shafts K transversely mounted, one at each end of the pan insuitable bearings there provided. A rod or bar K attached to lever arms76, mounted on the ends of rock-shafts K as shown, Fig. 3, serves tocoordinate the movement of the two latches which rest normally in apendent position.

To facilitate the engagement of the bottom plates as they return totheir closed position, the inner edges of the latches are suitablybeveled and tap bolts 7t screwed into the latches, prevent them fromswinging in too far.

From the disposition of the hinge pins d on which the bottom plates arepivoted, it is evident that upon the pan being loaded a greater weightof coal will necessarily rest upon the inner portions of the plates thanupon the outer. Consequently, upon releasing the plates by swinging thelatches K outwardly, this excess of weight will cause such plates totilt in the manner shown in Fig. 1, and so discharge the contents of thepan. By having the inner portions of the plates bent downwardly towardsthe center of the pan, an excess ofweight is thereby further assured onthe proper side of their pivotal axes to cause them to dump. In order toswing the latches K out in the manner above indicated, another leverarm, not shown, is preferably attached to one of the rock-shafts K. Thislever arm is connected by means of a rope, or in any other suitablemanner, with an operating lever beside the weigh-box, by means of whichshafts K may be rocked to swing latches K outwardly.

Having thusdescribed the construction of our improved weigh-pan, themanner of its operation may be briefly indicated. As has been shown, theconstruction is such that the pan is normally closed. In this conditionit is ready to receive the coal from the mine car which is dumped intoit from the dumping station, over an intervening screen, sinceordinarily the weight of the lump coal only is credited to the miner.Upon the weight of the coal in the pan being noted by the weigh-boss hepulls the lever beside the weigh-box and thereby dumps the contents ofthe paninto the bin or car beneath in the manner already fully setforth. As soon as they are relieved of the weight of the coal, thebottom plates D return of themselves to the horizontal position underthe influence of the counter-weights d and are automatically engaged andlocked by latches K. The pan is thereupon ready to receive another load.

It will be observed that the pan as a whole is substantially stationary,its only movement being the slight one incidental to the counterpoisingof the weighing mechanism. The opening and closing of the bottom of thepan, as contrasted with earlier types of pans, is made entirelyindependent of any such movement of the pan itself. e are thus able toconserve space since the mechanism occupies the same position and amountof room when being dumped as when being loaded. Moreover, the coal neednot be dropped any great distance for the same reason. At the same timethe pan is gravity-actuated and automatic, and hence requires no powerto operate it or any attention other than the control of the lockingdevice eflected. through. the lever beside the weigh-box.

As a result of all these improvements in operation, weare enabled totransfer. the coal from the mine car to a tipple bin or freight car muchmore rapidly than has heretofore been possible, and the saving of timethus effected is a very important consideration in the economicalrunning of a mine.

Having thus described our invention in detail, that which weparticularly point out and distinctly claim, is:

1. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle having a bottom member lyingwithin the planes of the sides of said receptacle and unsymmetricallypivoted on an axis intermediate of its own sides, said member beingcounterweighted so as to normally rest in a closed position when saidreceptacle is empty.

2. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle having a bottom member lyingwithin the planes of the sides of said receptacle and unsymmetricallypivoted on an axis intermediate of its own sides, said member beingcounterweighted so as to normally rest in a closed position when saidreceptacle is empty and to be swung into an open position by thecontents of said receptacle when the latter is loaded; and independentlycontrolled means adapted to retain said bottom member in its closedposition.

3. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle having a bottom member lyingwithin the planes of the sides of said receptacle and pivoted on an axisintermediate of its own sides, such pivotal axis lying to one side ofthe center of gravity of said member, the portion of such member on theopposite side of such axis being adapted to receive an excess of theload when said receptacle is loaded.

4. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle having a bottom member lyingwithin the planes of the sides of said receptacle and pivotally attachedat points intermediate of its own sides to said receptacle, and adaptedto have an excess of weight on one side of its pivotal axis when saidreceptacle is empty whereby said member is swung shut, and to have anexcess of weight on its other side when said receptacle is loaded,whereby said member is swung open; and independent means for retainingsaid member in its closed position.

5. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle having a bottom composed of twomembers lying within the planes of the sides of said receptacle andrespectively pivoted on axes intermediate of their sides, such membersnormally having an excess of weight on one side or their respective axeswhen said receptacle is empty and being adapted to receive an excess ofweight on the other side thereof when said receptacle is loaded.

6. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle having a bottom composed of twomembers lying Within the planes of the sides of said receptacle and.respectively pivoted on axes intermediate of their sides, such membersnormally having an excess of weight onv their outer sides when saidreceptacle is empty and being adapted to receive an excess of weight ontheir inner, adjacent sides when said receptacle is loaded.

7. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle having a bottom pivoted so as tohave an excess of weight on one side of its pivotal axis when saidreceptacle is empty, and to I have an excess of weight on the other sideof such axis when said receptacle is loaded, such excess of weight beingcontained in both cases within the vertical planes inclosing the bottomof said receptacle.

8. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle having a bottom so formed andpivoted as to have an excess of weight on one side of its pivotal axiswhen said receptacle is empty, and to have an excess of weight on theother side of such axis when said receptacle is loaded, such excess ofweight being contained in both cases Within the vertical planesinclosing the bottom of said receptacle.

9. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle having a bottom pivoted so as tohave an excess of weight on one side of its pivotal axis when saidreceptacle is empty, whereby said receptacle is closed, and to have anexcess of weight on its other side when said receptacle is loadedwhereby said receptacle is opened, such excess of weight being containedin both cases within the vertical planes inclosing the bottom of saidreceptacle, and manually-controlled means adapted to retain said bottomin its closed position.

10. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle having a bottom composed of twomembers pivoted so as to have an excess of weight on one side of theirpivotal axes when said receptacle is empty, whereby said members areclosed, and to have an excess of weight on the other side of theirpivotal axes when said. receptacle is loaded, whereby said members areswung open, such excess of weight being contained in both cases withinthe vertical planes inclosing the bottom of said receptacle, andmanually controlled means adapted to retain said members in their closedposition.

11.. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle having a bottom composed of twomembers respectively pivoted. on axes intermediate of their sides, suchmembers normally having an excess of weight on one side of theirrespective axes when said receptacle is empty and being adapted toreceive an excess of weight on the other side thereof when saidreceptacle is loaded.

12. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle having a bottom composed of twomembers &

respectively pivoted on axes intermediate of their sides, such membersnormally having an excess of weight on their outer sideswhen saidreceptacle is empty and being adapted to receive an excess of weight ontheir inner, adjacent sides when said receptacle is loaded.

13. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle formed of a series of transverseframes, side plates secured thereto, cross bars secured to the endframes, a longitudinal beam journaled at its ends in said cross bars,and a bottom plate mounted upon said beam, said bottom plate being sodisposed as to swing shut when said receptacle is empty and to open whensaid receptacle is loaded.

14. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle formed of a series of yokeangles, side plates secured thereto, cross bars secured to the endyokes, longitudinal beams journaled at their ends in said cross bars,and bottom plates mounted on said beams, such bottom plates being sodisposed thereon as to swing shut when said pan is empty and to swingopen when said pan is loaded.

15. A weigh-pan comprising a receptacle formed of a series of yokeangles, side plates secured thereto, cross bars secured to the endyokes, longitudinal beams journaled at their ends in said cross bars;bottom plates mounted on said beams and so disposed thereon as to swingshut when said pan is empty and to swing open when said pan is loaded,catches adapted to retain said bottom plates in their closed position,and means for releasing said catches.

16. A weighpan comprising a receptacle formed of a series of yokeangles, side plates secured thereto, cross bars secured to the endyokes, longitudinal beams journaled at their ends in said cross bars,and bottom-plates mounted on said beams and so disposed thereon as tonormally have an excess of weight on one side of their respectivepivotal axes when said receptacle is empty and adapted to have an excessof weight on the other side of such axes when said receptacle is loaded.

Signed by us, this 15th day of August 1905.

FRANK C. GREENE. CHARLES G. PALMER.

Attested by:

A. E. MERKEL, O. V. GREENE.

